Driving mechanism for bicycles or other devices.



No. 6493136. Patented May 15, I900. J. C. BUSCHE.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BIGYCLES OR OTHER DEVICES.

(Application filed Jan. 19 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES A TTOHNEYS Patantad'May l5, I900. J. C. BUSCHE. DRIVINGMECHANISM FUR BIGYBLES OR OTHER DEVICES.

(Application filed Jan. 19, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

WITNESSES A WORN/5Y8 line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

.matns nirirnn JOHN (3. BUSCIIE, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES OR OTHER DEVICES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,806, dated May 15,1900.

I Application filed January 19, 1900. Serial No. 2,013. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. BUSCHE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Driving Mechanism forBicycles or other Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to driving mechanisms applicable to bicycles andother devices, and has for its object to provide a mechanism of theclass indicated which is chainless in the sense that there is no directchain connection between the pedal-shaft and the hub of thedriving-wheel.

The object is to provide a mechanism in which the usual rotary movementof the pedals is preserved, while the parts operating upon the drivenWheel are in the nature of reciprocating levers operating adriving-wheel. This driving-wheel in my construction is a toothed rimengaging a pinion on the driven wheel and receiving a peculiar motion inthe manner hereinafter particularly set forth.

The invention will first be fully described, and its features of noveltywill then be point-- ed out in the claims.

Reference is to he had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle provided with my improvedmechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view drawn on an enlarged scale, with partsin sect-ion on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan, with parts insect-ion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1-, showing the mechanism connecteddirectly with the driven wheel. Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation on theline i 4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the Figs. 6, 7,and 8 are de tails of the driving-wheel and of means for connecting itwith the driving-lever, and Fig. l) is a diagram illustrating thepeculiar 1110- tion of the driving-wheel.

The frame of the bicycle is of substantially the usual construction. Thecrank-sl1aftA is journaled in the customary crank-hanger and is providedwith cranks 13, carryingpedals 0. Instead of the customary sprocketwheelthe crank-shaft carries two sprocketwheels 1) D on opposite sides, saidsprocketwheels being half-circular and extending in opposite directions,as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2-that is, while one sprocketwheel Dis up the other sprocket-wheel D is down. These sprocket-wheels areadapted to engage alternately with a sprocket-chain E, disposedvertically in advance of the crankshaft and supported on wheels E,journaled in a frameF, which is supported on the bar G and the seat-mastG of the cycle in the manner shown best in Fig. 2. This frame also hasangular portions F engaging the front face of the chain E, so as to holdit in proper re lation to the sprocket-wheels D D. The chain E hasrivets with enlarged heads H, forming teeth to be engaged by the teethof the sproeketwvheels. It will be understood that as thesprocket-wheels D D alternately engage with opposite runs of the chain Ethe chain will receive what may be termed a reciprocating movemen tthatis, first one run will be drawn downward and then the other run, causingthe first-mentioned run to move upward. This reciprocating movement istrans mitted to a lever I, which passes loosely through a guide Esecured to the chain E and projecting outwardly therefrom,as shown inFig. 5. The lever is fulcrumed at 1 upon a casing J, secured to the rearportion of the frame by suitable clips K. The rear end of the lever I ispivotally connected with a link L, which has a similar connection withthe driving-wheel or rim M. This wheel has teeth on its inside and isconstantlyin engagement with a pinion N on the hub of the rear wheel ordriven wheel 0. The wheel M is supported by the link L, above mentioned,and also by three cranks P, )ivoted at P upon the casing J and connectedat their free ends at equally-spaced points on the periphery of thewheel M. The pivots P also are equally spaced from each other and fromthe center of the pinion N, forming the corners of an equilateraltriangle.

To secure an easy motion, I prefer to corn struct the cranks P and theirconnection with the driving-wheel M as illustrated in detail in Figs. 0,7, and 8. As here shown the pivotpins P of the cranks have annulargrooves P for the reception of the balls Q, which are also seated inhalf-cylindrical bearing sleeves P these sleeves being held together bya cap 1?,

L of the link L. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) These sections are held in guidesM on the wheel M and are held in position by means of a screwbolt S. Thecross-pins P L, as well as the bearing-sections R, are provided withgrooves to receive the balls Q.

It will be understood that as the lever I oscillates on its pivot I thelink L will cause the driving-wheel M to swing around in the casing J,remaining always in engagement with the pinion N, owing to the guidingaction of the cranks P, which always remain parallel; but, as will beunderstood best by reference to the diagram in Fig. 9, the point ofcontact of the driving-wheel M with the pinion N varies constantly andpasses progressively from the front'face of the pinion to the bottomthereof, then to the rear face, and finally to the top. The motion is avery easy one and produces comparatively little friction.

Itwill be obvious that I might provide levers I on each side of thewheel and mount pedals directly upon the said levers, thereby dispensingwith the crank-shaft, the sprockets, and the chain. This, however, wouldbe open to the objection that the rider would be unable to use theaccustomed pedal motion of the feet, and, moreover, as the drivingmechanism would have to be duplicated on each side of the wheel therewould be very little savingin weight, if any. Therefore although thearrangement alluded to might be found convenient in special cases Iprefer the one illustrated in the drawings.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1'. A driving mechanism comprisinga driveshafthaving thereon segmental sprocket wheels mounted to rotate in differentplanes and facing in different directions, and a chain the runs of whichare disposed in the planes of rotation of said wheels and arranged to beengaged thereby alternately to produce a reciprocating motion of thechain when the drive-shaft rotates. c

2. Adriving mechanism comprising a driveshaft having thereon segmentalsprocketwheels mounted to rotate in different planes and facing indifferent directions, a chain the runs of which are disposed inv theplanes of rotation of said wheels and arranged to be engaged therebyalternately, to produce a reciprocating motion of the chain when thedriveshaft rotates, a lever engaging said chain loosely, and drivenmechanism connected with said lever.

3. Adriving mechanism comprising a'driveshaft having thereon segmentalsprocketwheels mounted to rotate in different planes and facing indiiferent directions, a chain the .runs of which are disposed in theplanes of rotation of said wheels and arranged to be engaged therebyalternately, to produce a reciprocating motion of the chain when thedriveshaft rotates, and a stationary frame forming a backing for thechain on the side opposite to that engaged by the sprocket-wheels.

4. A driving mechanism comprising a driveshaft having thereon segmentalsprocket wheels mounted to rotate in dilferent planes and facing indifferent directions, and a chain the runs of which are arranged in theplanes of rotation of the said wheels, the chain in cluding pivots orconnecting-pins extended to form teeth adapted to be engaged by saidsprocket-wheels.

5. In a bicycle or the like, the combination with the pedal-shaftcarrying on opposite sides of the machine segmental sprocketwheelsfacing in opposite directions, of a vertically-disposed chain having itsruns ar ranged in the planes of rotation of the said sprocket-wheels, tobe engaged thereby alternately, a lever extending lengthwise of themachine and connected loosely with said chain, a pinion on the hub ofthe driven-wheel, a driving-ring engaging said pinion, a drivingconnection between said lever and the driving-ring, and a supporting andguiding device for said ring, consisting of cranks pivoted to the frameof the machine at points equally distant from each other and from thecenter of the pinion, said cranks being also pivotally connected withthe ringat equidistant points.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. BUSCHE.

WVitnesses' I W. L. GRUBB, ALVIE MILLER.

